HERE IS WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US...


Hi Penny ...

Back from the road ... doing some research and noticed that you have quite the story! From Miss Florida USA to "Heads or Nails" to the boats, pretty amazing! If you need a quote from us to use in your materials ... here is something I came up with:

"The Island Boat Tour "In Search of Wildlife" experience certainly lives up to the info in the brochures. Within the first ten minutes of leaving the dock we saw a mother manatee and her pup playing in the shallow waters, a dolphin jumping beside the boat, and a Florida anhinga drying it's wings along the bank. It was the perfect nature tour to share with our viewers ... I would highly recommend it for any visitor".

Thanks again ... back to reviewing the video.

Stew (The TV Guy)

Hi Penny ...

Thanks for the email. We had a wonderful time on board and shoot some beautiful video ... your tour lives up to everything in the brochures! And you were a pro in front of the camera as well ... love the energy and the enthusiasm. I can see why you have been so successful with all of your projects. Hope full we can make it back and pay a visit to the River Queen.

Thanks again. I will send you a copy of the finished program.

Stew (The TV Guy)

Hi Penny - It's Tom from Northrop Grumman. Just a quick note to say thanks for a wonderful time last evening (Thursday 23 Mar 06). Our out of town customers were delighted with the cruise and the great food from the Green Turtle. Everyone had a fantastic time and commented that at this morning's meetings. The crew did a super job as did the smiling, picture taking and most gracious hostess...."the boat lady". Your sparkle, energy, friendliness and charm....added even more to a great cruise.

Thanks again for a great evening.

Tom Mackey

Dear Penny and Sandy,

What a great team you have!!! Some of the hotels could learn from you about hospitality. Please know that Art and I want to tell everyone we can about the boat and what beautiful shape it’s in - whether we work the job or not. You have a class act and everyone’s co-operation and help was truly appreciated by us. We were just amazed by the fact that help was offered before it was asked for and that you were all so flexible. We are so accustomed to being in circumstances where WE are having to pick up the pieces in other venues - that it was refreshing to be around such a considerate staff.

This reception was personal to us because of our longstanding friendship with the groom and we were grateful that everything was so smooth.

We heard many wonderful compliments about the boat by folks who hadn’t been on it so I’m hoping they will tell others as we plan to.

Warm regards in the New Year.

Sandee

Hello Penny, Sandy, Debbie and Capt. (and Doc Flaherty) :

Jaydeep and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support to the Florida Space Grant in helping us host the Fall 2005 National Space Grant Directors Meeting banquet on your most beautiful boat. Thanks for taking care of the group so well and making sure that every single detail was so well thought and planned. We really do appreciate all the time and effort each one of you took to make our conference such an enormous success. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely and everything was taken care of extremely efficiently and without any headaches on our part. It would have been impossible for the Florida Space Grant to pull off such a successful meeting without the immense help you and your team gave us. Thanks again, all of you, for not only bearing with me and my innumerable requests, but doing such a terrific job.

Thanks to the Capt. for deciding not to sail that evening - people actually preferred to stay docked rather than being tossed around on the river (which felt like the high seas that evening). Penny : thanks for the free drinks which, needless to say, was a huge hit with everyone. Thanks Sandy for all those table layout drawings and for that killer fruit punch which was simply too good to describe. Thanks to Doc Flaherty too for taking the time to stop by after an undoubtedly busy and tiring day.

Our meeting was a huge success and we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge that a major part of that credit is due to each of you and all the efforts you put into this. You really went out of your way to help the Florida Space Grant and showcase once again that a lot more can be achieved through teamwork than individual efforts alone. We could not have organised this conference without your help and support. On behalf of the National Space Grant Team, Jaydeep and I would like to thank each one of you for all your efforts and time. Best regards and thanks again :

Sreela Mallick
Coordinator - Research Programs
Florida Space Grant Consortium

Dear Penny,

Mom and I truly enjoyed our boat ride yesterday. The pace was just right, the boat comfortable and we had time to relax and talk with each other. In fact, everyone on the boat seemed to be talking to each other and looking around. We saw so many dolphins, Mom finally asked me if you paid the same one to show up over and over! As we were returning to the dock, I saw the Miss FLA USA departing and was struck that you are operating a professional water taxi service. Heartiest congratulations for your vision and perseverance!

Our guide was nice and we liked the history he told about Merritt Island and the area. Can't believe I've lived here for 16 years and didn't know lots of our history.

Best Regards,

Lauren Kotas
Hello everyone at Island Boat Lines!

I just wanted to tell you again how much we all enjoyed the trip last Friday for the "Second Annual" MILA Elementary School Ex. Ed Class. Your boat is beautiful and the crew were fantastic. This new larger boat was absolutely great!

The boat is a real joy to be on especially being wheelchair accessible. There are so many things that these children cannot experience due to their limitations and confines to wheelchairs. Your boat opens up an entire new world for these kids. The squeals of excitement at the site of the manatees playing just minutes after leaving the dock set the stage for a wonderful 2 hour cruise and still makes me smile. These kids never see that kind of thing. I cherish the moments like those, when my little boy can be just like any other kid, at least for a short time. Your cruise line makes that dream a reality. We cannot thank you enough. Although most of these children cannot speak for themselves, I hope that I can speak for them. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts... we will see you next year!!

John P. Shaffer
Dear Penny and/or Debbie,

By the way, we REALLY enjoyed the boat tour. Capt. John and his First-Mate were most informative - birds, plants, mammals, real-estate, weather, neighbors, etc. They obviously know and care a great deal about the area. They even arranged for (haha) a five-star dolphin show - we counted eleven - a few even swam alongside the boat. Our son loves dolphins, and this was the icing on the cake for our trip to Florida.

Sincerely,

Mark Steinmetz
Cincinnati, OH
Our Island Boat Lines cruise was an exhilarating and breathtaking experience, a highlight of our trip to Florida. We enjoyed the company of a brilliant and knowledgeable skipper and mate, saw magical, exotic, birds and were privileged to see dolphins and manatees swimming free in their protected lagoon environment. The cruise is an absolute must for anyone who loves wildlife and is one of the Sunshine State's best-kept secrets.

With best wishes from a sweltering UK, where thunderstorms are making it feel like Florida,

Nigel Family (August 2003)
Nigel Pickover, Editor Evening Star, UK
Extract from article posted on "JustSayGo.com" by Ron and Nancy Stern.

The Best of Florida
Exploring Orlando, the Space and Treasure Coasts

Mention Florida to the uninitiated and many will tell you about alligators, swamps, and hot summers... Another tour company that is worth checking out is Island Boat Lines. Their owner, Penny Flaherty offers eco tours of Cocoa Beach, Thousand Islands and the Indian River Lagoon. They also host field trips, birding tours, weddings and even space shuttle launch viewings.

Click here for full article.